Chapter 4; Dangerous Creatures:

So...uh, it's been over a year and a half since I updated this. I have no excuse except that I got distracted by other projects and I really lost inspiration for this one. But I came back to it and fell in love with writing for it once again. I changed a lot of the things I had planned for this, scaling back some future plot points and adding some new elements in. But it will give us the opportunity to enjoy a nice slow burn relationship between our two leads, Nuada and Eve. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this story and wished for it to continue. I will try my best to give you what you lovelies deserve, and I hope that you will continue to enjoy it.


"And this…is the cafeteria!" Myers announced, sweeping his arm in a grand gesture.

Eve tried to smile at the wide space filled with tables and chairs and a salad bar, but she couldn't muster the same enthusiasm as her tour guide. Myers, sensing her underwhelmed awe, chuckled awkwardly.

"Trust me, it might not look fancy, but the food is pretty decent."

"I'll take your word for it."

Myers laughed again, turning Eve's smile into a more genuine one. She sensed the agent was indulging her by laughing so heartily at everything she said, but she found she liked him for it. It was nice to make someone laugh. It was because of this quality of Myers that she was beginning to feel comfortable around him.

Well, as comfortable as Eve could be in her new environment filled with strangers.

It had been three days since Eve had come to the Bureau, and she was no more at home than the first night she arrived. Myers finally had the time to make good on his promise to give her a tour of the compound and introduce her to the agents he knew. Eve even dressed up for the occasion in her favorite blue dress and white sweater, going through the trouble of braiding her pale white hair up to make her appear a bit more normal.

But while the tour was going well, the introductions were not. Eve had met many so-called agents, but they weren't like Myers. They saw Eve as another oddity, another creature they had to tiptoe around because it was their job to work with things like her. She could tell by their curt nods and stiff replies that they were not going to be social with her any time soon. Eve did not hold this against them, as she could only imagine difficult their jobs must be, so she tried not to be disappointed.

It was just…while Eve knew she could never find another friend like Dr. Hale, she had hoped to connect with a few others than just Myers. Her hopes for the team were still there, as they were mostly of the Other Kind. If anyone were to understand her ways it would be them, and she already felt she knew them so well. Specifically, Hellboy. He was the one Professor Broom wrote much on, detailing his adopted son's feats and little quirks as any doting parent might. Eve promised herself, next time they met, she would try to make a better impression upon the demon. Though, perhaps Abraham Sapien would be a better choice of acquaintance since he seemed closer to her in personality from what she heard about him from Meyers. As for Elizabeth Sherman…no, Eve would not be comfortable around that woman for a long time, if ever.

It is unfortunate that one of them is a pyrokinetic. I wished Professor Broom had mentioned that in his letters…he knew I was afraid of -

"Well, you can always leave the compound to go shopping for food if you prefer to cook for yourself." Myers went on to say, interrupting Eve's thoughts, "There's a nice farmers market only ten miles down the road. I can arrange for you to get a car."

Eve chuckled in embarrassment.

"I cannot drive," She admitted. Honestly, after all these years she still somehow couldn't manage to get approved for a driver's license. Even after trying to enchant the car to obey her. Instead she only managed to make it sentient and it ran away with a pickup truck. Dr. Hale didn't mind it so much, as she preferred walking anyway, although that didn't stop her from teasing Eve about it for a couple of decades.

"Oh! In that case, there is a bus stop nearby." Myers suggested before he shrugged somewhat bashfully, "Or I could take you down. There are some pretty good restaurants in that area if we want to stop for lunch too."

"I do not know. I do not like crowded places very much. My powers are a bit...sporadic sometimes." Eve glanced away in shame, missing look of disappointment on the agent's face.

"Well, maybe once you get used to this place. Come on, plenty more to see." Myers ushered her back into the hall. She followed after him eagerly. He was quiet for some time, and sensing something was amiss, Eve tried to think of something nice to say.

"I want to thank you again, Agent Myers. I really do appreciate this tour." She said for what was possibly the fifth time, causing Agent Myers to smile and idly scratch the back of his head.

"No problem. Took me a few weeks to learn the layout when I first arrived. Trust me, you don't want to take a wrong turn in this place."

Eve nodded in agreement. This place was a maze of concrete and hallways, and despite her powers, Eve was not blessed with a sense of direction. She had managed to survive the three days by remaining holed up in her room with a few snacks she had packed for the trip over, but now she was going to have to leave it if she wanted to eat.

Unless, of course, I manage to learn how to make the microwave obey my commands, She considered thoughtfully, Perhaps a simple spell might do the trick…

"But, you know," went on Myers, "If you wanted a map, you could have just asked for one. That thing is kind of weirding me out."

Eve frowned in confusion, but when Myers pointed to her left she realized what was so 'weirding'. A hexed parchment, quill, and inkwell floated beside her, pausing in their work at their being mentioned. The quill had been loyally scribbling everything it saw in great detail, labeling rooms and correctly charting the place in proper dimensions to make a map for Eve. Of course, while this was perfectly normal for Eve, the floating objects had been getting a few odd looks from some of the passersby.

You'd think they would be used to these sorts of things given their line of work though. Humans are so peculiar.

"They're harmless." She chuckled, hoping it would ease Myers' apprehension. He was still frowning at it as he watched the quill go back to its scribbling.

"Okay, sure. But why couldn't you have just used some paper and a pen instead of a scroll and feather?"

Eve shrugged.

"A pen does not have as much personality, you could say. Not like a quill does anyways. And I rather like the smell of fresh ink, don't you?"

"Oh, so you're just an old-fashioned kind of witch." Myers smiled in realization.

Eve pouted, tugging at her sleeves self-consciously. She guessed he wasn't really talking about her appearance specifically, but she did not like to be referred to as 'old' in any context.

"So, anyway, how's the adjusting going?" Myers continued.

Eve's pout turned into a thoughtful frown as she considered how to reply.

While it was true she wished to have a better acquaintance with the team and perhaps some of the agents, she supposed everything else was satisfactory. She had spent her time fixing up her private quarters to be homier. It was now a colorful display of glamour magic, with rich wood furniture and soft-hued walls. She had transformed the sitting room into an office like space with many shelves and a wide desk. In the bedroom, she turned the sad mattress into a four-poster bed and created a living mural behind it displaying the view of her old room at Dr. Hale's house. While she feared having to explain how she was able to manage the changes and complicated glamour she performed despite being a mere 'apprentice', she felt it was necessary to have a bit of luxury. Bartholomew too was enjoying his new terrarium. Or, at least, he hadn't tried to escape from it yet.

More importantly, Eve had managed to charm the blasted door so it opened only on her verbal command rather than needing to type in that vexing key code every time. Overall her room was cozier and more welcoming, to be sure, but it was still lacking natural light and the plants she had in her care were beginning to show signs of withering. That the whole compound was underground was also taking its toll on Eve. She did not like to be trapped below ground…

"I suppose as well as can be expected." Eve finally admitted, "Though a bit cramped with all the plants."

"We do have a greenhouse if you like. Plenty of sunlight and room." Myers suggested nonchalantly.

Eve's face instantly brightened.

"Oh! That would be perfect! Would you show that to me next, please?" She asked, hoping it was not too imposing of her to request. She was sure Myers would, as he seemed to want to please her. Upon reflection though, she had to further ask, "Though, what is the Bureau's policy on flesh-eating flowers?"

Agent Myers visibly paled.

"On flesh-eating flowers? Uh, well, I guess we–"

"Damn it! Stay still!"

A shout echoed down the corridor ahead. The sound came from an open door, as thick as a vault, not far from Eve and Agent Myers. And Eve guessed, by how the voice boomed, that it belonged to the demon.

"You would not expect an enemy to wait for you to react." Said another voice, smoother and more mannered. Eve knew it instantly to be the Elven Prince, and she left Myers' side to push open the door a little farther. Myers came after her, but before he could explain to her that it wouldn't be the wisest idea, Eve entered the room.

"Are you calling me slow?" Growled the demon, panting a little and clutching the large sword. The Eleven Prince, standing tall and confident, arched a challenging brow.

"Very."

The two ran at each other, stopping a hairsbreadth apart to meet with swords instead. The room about them Eve quickly identified to be an exercise or training room. It was large, cavernous even, with a high ceiling and padded flooring. There were some weights in the corner, Eve gulping to notice one set reaching over five hundred pounds. She deduced this might be the demon's own personal training room, which would explain why the door was so thick. The walls were also fortified and padded, though riddled with dents from countless 'accidents'.

Eve quit her investigation of the room to watch the demon and elf circle one another. She was absolutely entranced in the subtle movements of the two, that she didn't notice when Myers standing next to her at the edge of the floor mats.

"Looks like they're at it again."

"They spare often?" Eve turned to him, curious. Myers shrugged, unimpressed with the fight happening before him.

"Yeah. Trust me, you don't want to hang around when these two are at it. They don't like to hold back. Probably best if we move along."

Eve did not want to though and turned back to witness the display of power. She wished to observe the demon she had heard so much of from Professor Broom.

In his letters, Professor Broom had reported Hellboy to be a kind, if a bit rough, creature. Eve personally could not see the kindness as of yet, as he seemed rather sarcastic and derisive, but of the 'rough' she could easily identify. His red skin was thick like armor, and his body was a pillar of muscle. The only thing about him that truly surprised Eve was that his horns were shaved down as if he was ashamed of them. He still had his tail however and was now flicking side to side in anger as he slashed and hacked at the prince with a strength Eve knew to be formidable. Truly, the demon was a credit to his kind.

Yet…as admirable as the demon was, Eve was left in awe when it came to the Elven Prince.

Prince Nuada Silverlance of the Bethmoora Clan…the Royal Blood of the Strange Folk…

Never in her life did Eve ever think she would actually meet one of the elves of old. Even when she had been a young girl there were not many of them around and those that were had hidden themselves away like most of the Other Kind. While it was true she had learned some of their language, Daoine, it had been only for ritual purposes in her family. Eve had always hoped she would one day meet a real elf, as she herself was gifted with the Second Sight. Fairies and trolls, goblins and pookas were as familiar to her as mice and birds were to others. It had just been a part of her everyday life, and particularly helpful for her family when it came to getting supplies for spells and potions.

Even so…it was a wish fulfilled to see both Prince Nuada and Princess Nuala. They were both so beautiful. With skin as pale as snow and eyes like golden coins…no, beautiful was not enough of a word. Enchanting was closer, and yet still not sufficient. Even their hair was beguiling, starting as white and ending as sun-colored strands, offsetting the pale scar that signified their royal status. The moment she saw the mark that bridged their cheeks and nose, she knew who they were. They were everything she had ever heard of. And more.

They were creatures of splendor and magic, of the old ways and of the Other Kind.

As Eve watched the Prince, she could see why he was giving the demon a – how was it phrased? –run for his money. The demon was a creature of brute force, but Nuada was one of speed and technique. He possessed his own strength, one of grace and agility. Eve was not knowledgeable of the ways of combat, but she could tell that Nuada was more skilled than Hellboy – almost laughably so. The demon held his own, but Nuada slashed at him from all sides and with such speed that Eve's eyes could not follow. He reeled and twisted, his taunt body a weapon in itself.

Eve felt the fight might have gone on forever, but with an act of finality, Nuada lunged at the demon. The point of his sword rested over the demon's heart, forcing him still.

"Match goes to me," Nuada announced, his voice emotionless even in victory. The demon swatted away the Prince's sword from him, scowling.

"Yeah, yeah," Hellboy growled, turning to see Eve and Myers standing at the edge of the floor mats. His irritation seemed to increase.

"Hey, look. Company."

"That was most impressive! You both are very skilled!" Eve applauded, smiling from ear to ear. She could not help her own excitement. The demon and Prince both were such impressive creatures that she felt giddy like she was seeing a fairy for the first time again.

"Uh-huh." The demon gave her an odd look, glancing from her to the scroll and quill that floated beside her before smirking, "Sorry. Don't do autographs."

Eve frowned, uncertain what he referred to, but supposed that maybe he was being 'weirding' out by the enchanted items like Agent Myers had been. Wanting to make a better impression upon the demon this time, Eve decided to accommodate him and snapped her fingers. The quill shook, and in a moment it, the scroll, and inkwell, flew back into the bag she had at her side.

The demon watched this curiously but then focused his glare onto Agent Myers.

"Myers. Don't you have somewhere else to be?"

The man shrugged, not fazed by the demon's hostility.

"Just taking Eve on a tour."

The demon's smirk grew larger.

"First name basis already, huh?"

Myers was about to reply with something terse, but Eve beat him to it.

"I grew up in a very formal environment, so I find I like being called by my first name even if we are not well acquainted. Please, I insist you do the same if you would like." Eve clarified with a smile. This was her chance to become acquainted with the demon, and she wanted to snatch it wholeheartedly.

At her friendly manner though, the demon arched a brow.

"Formal? I think you mean Amish. I've never heard anyone talk the way you do outside of Prince Charming here. And I was born in the forties."

The corner of Eve's lips twitched into a frown.

He is insulting me, I know it. I don't know how, but he is.

"Of course. I'll work on it." She said dejectedly, causing the demon to shrug his shoulders at the sudden change in her attitude.

At the mention of the Bethmoora Prince though, Eve glanced his way. He had retreated to a bench in the corner, cleaning his sword dutifully. He did not seem to be paying any attention to them, and Eve was relieved for it. It was intimidating enough conversing with the demon, let along royalty…

No, I'll make a good impression. I have to. Whether I like it or not, this is my new home. And I have to at least have more than just Myers as an acquaintance. I promised Dr. Hale I would make the best of this…

"So, Eve…" The demon annunciated heavily as he left the mats to fetch his shirt, "You're a witch."

"Yes?"

"Do something witchy. Let's see what you can do."

The request confused Eve, and she took a moment to interpret it. Was he requesting some show of magic? Did he not believe her a witch then? She recalled the lie that Krauss had told the others – that she was still witch in training, a useless apprentice. The demon clearly believed this lie and seemed to be challenging her to impress him.

The spark of competition lit itself in Eve before she could quell it. She snapped her fingers, and the quill leaped out of her bag and back to life. It danced around her excitedly, and Eve smiled at the demon for approval.

"That the best you got Rapunzel?" He scoffed, and Eve shrunk into herself. For such a trick she would have been put to death for it three hundred years ago...

It…it would not hurt. Not here, not him. He's used to these kinds of things. I can use my powers here if I take care not to…

Eve shook her head, ordering the quill back into her bag. No, she couldn't do it. It was too risky.

"It's not tasteful to show off."

The demon barked a laugh. He turned his back to her, preparing to leave the room.

"Got it. You're just an apprentice. Bet you can't even make a broomstick dance."

Eve was not certain how, but the demon was insulting her again. It was starting to irritate her.

"I fail to see why that would be useful," She muttered.

The demon didn't even bother to look back at her. He was marching towards the door, purposefully slamming against Myers' shoulder, practically shoving him out of the way. Eve shifted uncomfortably, not liking the impression she had made so far. A useless apprentice. Was this how they all saw her? The truth could not be farther. If they but knew what she was capable of, of what she had done, then the demon would not be so quick to dismiss her…

Some remnant of her old pride rose up. Eve had wanted to make a good impression on the demon. She wanted to earn his respect, just as Professor Broom had earned hers. Obviously, it would take more than a floating quill to do that.

"Exemplum." She muttered, reaching a hand out towards Hellboy.

Before he could cross the threshold of the door, the demon stopped in surprise. A glimmering image of Eve stood in his way, staring up at him in a mischievously innocent fashion. The demon whipped his head around, wondering how the girl moved so quickly, before catching on.

Eve now stood among several copies of herself, each identical to her in every way. There were five in total, not including herself. A simple spell of glamour, but one that required an eye for detail. Eve dropped her bag onto the floor, stepping up onto the gym mats as her doppelgangers followed in their own fashion. The one by the door twirled her way past the demon, showing off its ability for independent movement.

Eve, knowing she had the demon's attention now – as well as a gasping Myers – swayed with her glamour copies, moving about them until she was indecipherable from the rest. Only a trained eye could tell the original from the others. As the demon stepped closer to watch, his eyes darting over each one of the Eves, it was clear he could not. Eve felt pride well up in her chest, the same it used to whenever she bested her sisters in a friendly duel. How she had missed this feeling, the old song of magic coursing through her freely.

Spinning with her doppelgangers, Eve's eyes landed on the Prince. She had nearly forgotten him. He was still seated on the bench, but his sword was now lying idly in his lap as he too watched her and her copies. She could not tell what he was thinking, but the scrutinizing look he gave her told Eve that he could tell flesh from glamour. But of course, he could. She would have been disappointed if he couldn't. The piercing feeling of his eyes on her forced Eve to look away from him, as it was too much attention for her to bear.

The demon had stepped closer now so he was on the mats again. Still looking at each copy of Eve, he ventured to reach out a hand to touch one. A fake, it flickered when the hand reached its shoulder, causing the image to shatter away in a shower of light. The demon pulled back his hand, glancing from it to the other Eves that now stopped to smile at him.

"Neat. Not amazing, but neat." He smirked.

Eve and her remaining copies laughed, the sound echoing in the large room. The demon was a hard one to win over, and Eve delighted in the challenge. She recalled her glamour images to herself, leaving her only remaining as she lifted her hands. The air of the room trembled, and slowly, Eve was lifted up. Suspended three feet high, her hair and dress billowed about her, as if she was floating in water. Again, a simple spell, one that didn't even need her to speak to have it done.

Now at eye level with the demon, Eve felt herself smirking. She willed other objects to follow her lead. A chair in a corner, a set of weights, and even the sword the demon had hefted onto his shoulder began to float up. Hellboy tried to keep a hold of sword, but it slipped past his grip. The surprised look he gave Eve made her chuckle, and she wondered if she might be able to lift him up too. It wouldn't be difficult. Why, with her power, it would be as easy as…

Oh, no.

A shiver went through Eve. Some cold, terrible thing inside her shifted, bringing itself to the surface of her power. She had gone too far. It was taking over. Her skin felt too tight, barely able to contain the power that had been denied freedom these past few decades. If she didn't stop now, then it would take over. Panic flooded her, threatening her last thread of control. If that went, then she wouldn't be able to stop it, and then she would be lost to it again, and then she would hurt and take and destroy and –

Everything crashed back to the floor. Eve barely managed to land on her feet, stumbling a little. The sword – which had floated behind the demon – stabbed itself down into the concrete floor not two feet from Myers. The startled man jumped back, unhurt, but Eve felt sick with guilt.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Oh, God! I'm so sorry!" She cried, running over to Myers only to stop herself from reaching out to him. It wasn't a good idea for her to touch anyone, especially a mortal, right now. Eve cursed herself.

Dolt! Useless pox! I'm supposed to try to get these people to like me, not get them split in twain!

She should have known. At home with Dr. Hale, she could have handled twice this amount of magic without losing control. But being in a new environment, surrounded by strangers, the walls she had built with Dr. Hale to contain the overwhelming power within her must have crumbled a little. She had felt it when Dr. Hale died, a crack etching its way in, but Eve had no idea it was this bad. If she didn't reinforce the enchantment, if she didn't find a warlock or witch powerful enough to help her contain it, then–!

"Uh…whoa." Uttered Agent Myers in front of her, breaking Eve's panic. He was smiling from ear to ear.

"That was cool! So you can fly?"

"No. Actual flight isn't possible unless I bathe in the boiled fat of an unbaptized child. That was a levitation spell," Eve answered, confused by his question and reaction.

"Ah." He grimaced, "Never mind."

"Levitation. It's a nice party trick." Spoke the demon from behind her. He sounded bored now. None of them knew how close she came to losing control. All they saw was her – what was that phrase? – drop the ball when it came to her spell. They didn't know. They didn't know and no one was hurt. It was alright.

For now.

"That's…all I can really do. Potions are really more my area of expertise." Eve lied timidly, glancing towards Prince Nuada to gauge his reaction to all of this. He was still on the bench and was back to polishing his sword as if she and the others were not even here. Eve felt a wave of relief bring her back to normal.

"Icky stuff. I once saw a witch's brew turn someone inside out. Wasn't pretty." Commented the demon as he walked back over towards her and Myers.

Eve frowned.

"I do not practice to harm others."

Not intentionally.

"So, like, you don't do black magic?" Asked Myers as he stepped aside for Hellboy. The demon gripped the handle of his large sword, and with a tug, freed it from the concrete. There remained a crack in the floor, and Eve felt her guilt increase at the sight of it.

"There is no such thing." She started to explain, "Black magic or white magic, as you call them, does not exist. Magic itself is not inherently evil or good, but the thoughts and will behind its' use can be. If the person is good, then the spell is good. However, one should not meddle with spells of ancient or great power." Here, Eve unconsciously tugged down the sleeves at her wrists. "Unlimited power can feed into the darker side of oneself."

"Geez Rapunzel, you sound like a fortune cookie." Snorted Hellboy. She tilted her head curiously up at him.

"Is that a good thing?"

The demon looked at her for a second before shrugging and smirking, "Sure, why not."

Eve did not know what this meant, but some hope fluttered in her that she finally managed to make a good impression on the demon. She smiled up at him and tried to think of something else to say to keep the conversation going. The letters that Professor Broom had written came to mind. She had kept them all, tying them into a neat stack with a purple ribbon, and had wanted to share them with the demon when they finally got a chance to know one another better. Perhaps now would be a good time to mention them.

Eve opened her mouth to speak, but another beat her to it.

"Hey, lover."

All three turned to see Liz Sherman, dressed in black from head to toe apart from a red choker necklace, waltz up to them. Myers and Hellboy smiled while Eve fought the urge to step back.

"Babe." Smiled the demon. Liz came up next to Hellboy, smirking when he slid an arm around her small waist. Turning to notice Eve, the pyrokinetic woman smiled.

"Eve, right? How's the Bureau treating you?"

"It treats me well," Eve said pleasantly, mimicking the woman's smile as best she could. She feared the nervous tremble in her hands ruined the effect, something Liz definitely noticed.

"…okay. So, hey," She looked up to Hellboy, "I ordered us a couple dozen pizzas and the twins are with Abe and Nuala. Figured we could use some alone time."

The smirk the demon wore was the biggest Eve had seen him display yet.

"Have I told you lately how much I love you?"

"I could stand to hear it more." Chuckled Liz.

The woman turned to chat with Myers for a moment, saying something about coffee. Myers had told Eve that he and Liz were friends, but by the jealous expression that came over the demon, Eve wondered if there had been more between them. But it was none of her business. She turned from them to glance once more towards Prince Nuada. He was standing now, packing his training supplies into a bag before slinging it over his shoulder. When he turned and began to leave the room, the demon shouted at him.

"See ya, Prince Charming. Beat you next time."

"One can always hope." Replied the elven prince without a hint of emotion, causing the demon to growl. Eve continued to watch him, barely catching the gold shift in his eyes as he looked her way a brief moment before leaving the gym. Eve tried to ignore the wave of unease the glance caused in her.

"Let it go, sweetie. Let it go." Liz soothingly told the demon as the air about him turned hot. The affronted Hellboy and his mate took their leave as well, Liz throwing back a friendly wave goodbye at Eve and Myers which only the latter returned. Eve's mind was still on the elf. She waited to speak until she was certain the Prince was out of hearing range – elves had frightfully excellent ears.

"Prince Nuada seems…" Eve started but could not find the proper word. Myers offered his help.

"Broody? Gloomy? Murderous? Take your pick."

"I do not understand." Eve frowned.

Myers pursed his lips, considering his next words carefully. He knew that the Director didn't want Eve privy the work of the BPRD. He said it was none of her business to know what went on here. Still, she had to know this at least, if just for her own personal safety.

"He's not here, um, willingly. Hellboy defeated the Prince when he plotted to kill all of humanity with something called the Golden Army."

"The Golden Army?!" Gasped Eve, unable to keep out the horror in her voice.

Had the Prince really attempted such a thing? He had been exiled for it once, all those hundreds of years ago as the stories went. But such an act now could only mean an intention to eradicate all humans!

Eve could not help but be shaken by this news. As a royal member of Bethmoora Clan, she did not want to think ill of Prince Nuada, but if this was true than it did not paint him in a flattering light. She had heard stories, rumors floating around the troll market near Dr. Hale's home, about the death of King Balor. She had mourned for him then out of respect, but now, she mourned for the thought that Prince Nuada must have betrayed his own father and kin to unleash the Golden Army. Only a being filled with the darkest of rages could ever want to wield such a weapon. But surely, there had to have been some mistake? Prince Nuada could not be the kind of monster that would wish for such bloodshed…could he?

"So, he a prisoner here?" She asked, unable to stop the conflicting war of her emotions from furrowing her brow.

"Sort of. He surrendered to Hellboy and now they work together. He can only leave the compound for certain missions, and even then, he's kept on a tight leash." Myers explained. But noticing the worried look on Eve's face, Myers wrongly guessed she feared for her own safety.

"You don't need to worry about him. He's…safe. I think." He tried to comfort. Eve, touched by his worry over her, put aside her conflict to smile at him. His attempt successful, Myers nodded towards the door.

"Come on. More to see."


The library was thick with silence. Nuada preferred it that way, on the rare occasions that he visited it.

It was not that he objected to the library itself, as it was one of the places in this confounded compound he could find some enjoyment. It was not comparable to the royal library he had grown up with, but it was a sizable room and collection that offered some books and tomes that even he had not read yet. Many of them were human works of course, but some could hold his interest. Grimoires, Occult Epics, and even some human myths offered rare moments of escape for Nuada. However, the library happened to be a popular place for Abe and Nuala to meet, as the amphibian man's tank made up one entire side of the room. And if they were not here, it was always likely an agent was, tasked with some research for whatever latest mission or problem the Bureau was facing. But today the room was empty, and rather than select his reading material and retreat to his room or his other secret place, Nuada decided to stay.

However, as he sat in a chair behind a corner of shelves, he found he could not relax. It had been a few hours since his sparring session with the demon, but Nuada felt coiled with tension. Not even a shower and his usual cup of dandelion tea could alleviate his agitation. He was unsettled, a feeling that had been plaguing him more of late. While it would be natural to attribute it to his state of imprisonment, this day he knew the cause to be something else. Or rather, someone else.

It had been a surprise to see the witch in the training room. It was a surprise when anyone stopped by when Nuada and the demon dueled. Anyone with a sense of self-preservation typically avoided being in the room when the two were sparring. The demon, at times, could get rather carried away. But to see her standing there, eyes shining as if she was witnessing some kind of miracle, was even stranger. She looked absolutely enthralled with their skills and seemed to want to impress the demon in turn. Yet her little show of magic, the skills she demonstrated...that went beyond strange. From the first, Nuada did not trust her. It was his nature to be cautious, and it served him well his many centuries of life. But now he realized his instincts may be more right than even he first supposed...

As if summoned by his thoughts, Nuada sensed the approach of the witch. Her magic stood out easily here. It thrummed like a hummingbird's heart in an otherwise deadened place. It came as no surprise to him with the library doors opened and in stepped the witch with Myers.

"This, as you know, is the library!" Announced Myers, the witch following him into the middle of the room. The witch nodded, her eyes scanning the shelves before her appreciatively. The inkwell, scroll, and quill floating by her head danced excitedly, sketching everything they saw.

"And thus, the Myers' tour of the BPRD has concluded," The agent then gave a mock bow, "I do hope you have enjoyed your time and for holding all your questions until the end."

The witch turned towards him with a frown.

"But…I have been asking questions the entire time. Was I not supposed to? I'm sorry if I was being rude."

At her sudden upset, Myers immediately tried to placate her.

"I was trying to make a joke. Sort of."

The witch's frown deepened, then softened, and then she finally gave an awkward chuckle.

"Oh, of course. A joke."

Nuada, from his corner, attempted to ignore their conversation but began to consider taking his leave. It was clear that the two of them had not noticed him yet, and he did not feel like announcing himself in the hopes they would soon depart. That being said, he did not want to be subjected to the obvious attempts of Myers trying to charm the witch. He clearly was interested in her given the way he acted around her, but the witch was either oblivious or uninterested. It was hard to tell, as she was quiet and timid around most everyone. Given the way she spoke and acted, it was easy for even Nuada to tell that she had not spent much time around her fellow humans. Even Hellboy found her strange. Yet it seemed that the witch took a liking to the demon if her previous actions to impress him were any indication. Even as a witch, it was odd that any human should want for the company of a demon...

"Who owns all these books? It is a most impressive collection." The witch asked as she idly paced closer to Nuada's corner, looking over the books in great interest.

"Well, some were items that had been confiscated. Powerful voodoo, you know? But most of it is, uh, was the personal collection of Professor Broom."

At the mention of the Professor, the witch slowed her steps. A curious expression furrowed her brows, and she reached out to touch the spines of the books next to her as if they could offer comfort.

"I see." She muttered, her voice heavy with emotion. Sensing something wrong, Myers frowned.

"So…you knew him? Professor Broom?"

The witch took a moment to answer. When she did, her words were hesitant, as if she felt she was sharing too much too soon, "Yes. He and Dr. Hale helped me with my adjustment after I left Salem behind. He visited us every few years and wrote us many letters, helping Dr. Hale with her research. He was very dear to her. And to me."

"I'm sorry," Myers said softly, "I knew him too. He brought me here to the Bureau. He was a good man."

"Yes. He was." Agreed the witch, attempting to smile.

Nuada, despite his resolve to ignore the pair of them, could not help but ponder this. It had been indicated that there had been a strong friendship between Dr. Hale and Professor Broom, but it seemed the witch knew him personally as well. If that was the case, it explained much. If Professor Broom had been a friend, it was only natural that the witch would seek the company of the demon who had been the man's adopted son, lonely as she must be after losing two companions. And perhaps that was why the Professor felt it necessary to sign a Pact of Blood to ensure the young woman's protection. And yet...

"So, uh, I got to get back to work actually," Myers spoke, attempting to alleviate the mood, "Believe it or not, there are a lot of papers needing to be filed with my name on them. Do you want me to walk you back to your room?"

The witch, to both Myers and Nuada's disappointment, shook her head.

"If it all the same, I would rather stay here for a while. With my map, I can find my way back. Again, thank you so much for showing me the compound."

Seeing little chance of persuading her to change her mind, Myers smiled and nodded.

"Any time."

He left after making a promise to check up on her tomorrow, but the witch only half-heard him as she retreated back to the shelves. The library fell into a heavy silence once more, but Nuada's concentration was no longer on his book. He more listened to the shuffle of the witch's steps than watched her, but he was still very aware of her presence that changed the air of the library as her magic spread itself out as if needing room to stretch. The witch slowly began to pace the length of the shelves, stopping once in a while to climb a ladder to inspect the higher shelves. Her mood seemed to have improved, as the quill, scroll, and inkwell again moved around her excitedly. She began to touch the spines of books, causing them to dance along after her as she continued to browse the collection. She didn't seem to be looking for anything in particular, but her eyes would light up when she came across certain titles.

"The Dragon Codex…A Guide to Witches and Warlocks…Grimm's Fairytales…" She hummed to herself in interest. That last book she actually grabbed herself, flipping through the pages until she found something that made her frown.

"Hansel and Gretel. I remember this story. What horrible children."

She had it float along with the others anyway, her selection growing quite large until there were some odd twenty books suspended in the air. This display of magic was not as showy as what she had performed in the gym, and yet still it unsettled Nuada to see it. The demon may have been unimpressed with the witch's skills, but he did not have the experience for which to make a proper judgment. In comparison to the ones he had faced or sought help from were capable of, of course a levitation spell would seem rudimentary to Hellboy. But if he had spent as much time in Troll markets as Nuada had, he would not be so quick to dismiss her. Nuada had seen witches of all levels of competence, from actual apprentices to masters of their craft. And from what he had seen, this witch was no mere apprentice...

Finally, the witch made it over to Nuada's corner. Still scanning the shelves, it took her another moment to notice him. And when she had, she yelped as if she had been struck by hellfire. Her concentration broken, Nuada half-expected her spell to sever and all the books to drop. At least, that was what one might expect if this witch was an actual apprentice. Instead what happened was far more unusual.

Nuada barely had time to duck and roll when the flurry of books came his way. They came down like a flock of crows hungry for flesh, smashing themselves against the space Nuada's head had been. It was easy enough to avoid them all, but that did not leave Nuada any less surprised when he stood himself up and inspected the damage they had caused to the shelf that was behind the chair, nearly breaking it.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Are you alright?!" The witch panicked, reaching a hand out to him only to then pull it back as if afraid. She seemed torn between wanting to retreat from him or help him. Her distress was obvious, and she continued to apologize and fret over him without pause for breath until Nuada finally spoke.

"I am fine."

Hearing that, the witch practically collapsed against a nearby shelf in relief. In some effort to calm herself, she worriedly ran her long braid of hair in her hands. Nuada noticed her hands were shaking, and he wondered if it really was his being here that startled her so much or her reaction. It took her a moment to glance back towards him, and even then she did not meet his eyes.

"I didn't think anyone was in here. Sorry. I...I just...sorry."

Nuada nodded, accepting her apology before she could start rambling again. Still shaken, she went over to the chair he had been seated in and kneeled before it, cleaning up the mess she had made. The books picked themselves up, almost apologetic in their movements as they passed Nuada and back to their places on the shelves. As for the witch, she took out a handkerchief from her bag and attempted to rub away the ink from her inkwell that had spilled onto the rug. When it refused to be rubbed away, she risked a quick spell and it disappeared. Packing up what remained into her satchel, she stood up.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, your highness. I'll…I'll leave. Sorry." She muttered, briefly meeting his eyes. As if frightened to come near him, she gave Nuada a wide berth as she passed by. Before she could make her escape however, Nuada felt the need to speak.

"For an apprentice, you show more discipline than one might expect."

The witch came to a sudden stop, causing the long train of her braided white hair to sway as she turned back to look at him.

"Pardon?"

"Duplicates and levitation are not the spells an apprentice usually attempts, let alone have mastered." He commented, carefully watching her reaction. The witch could react in any number of ways. She could attempt to lie to him, explain herself, or deny everything. She chose the third option with a sheepish smile.

"Well, clearly I have not mastered anything."

Nuada only arched a brow, and the witch seemed to understand that he did not believe her. Immediately she looked away from him as if she was afraid he could read her thoughts. Still, she attempted a curtsey to him.

"By your leave, your highness." She told him, speaking in his native language of Daoine. The audacity of it made him scowl, but she happened to miss it as she practically ran out of the room then, retreating as quickly as she could without seeming impolite.

Nuada, after a few moments, sat down once more in the chair in the corner. The witch had accidentally put away the book he had been in the process of reading, but he had no desire to retrieve it from its spot. His thoughts remained on the witch, or rather, what should be done about her.

There was something greatly disturbing about her. Her odd mannerisms and white hair aside, the witch was clearly hiding many things. The Pact of Blood, her all too innocent air, pretending to be an apprentice...he wondered if she would present a future danger to them. She was far more adept at spells than she let on, but her lack of control came not from beginner's inexperience, but rather an abundance of power. Too much power, especially for one so young as she. A power that was fueled heavily by her emotions and was unsteady at best. If she became frightened or angry enough, she could very well hurt or even kill people...

After a few moments of consideration, Nuada dismissed the idea of sharing his suspicions with the others. It was not his business. Director Manning had made the choice to bring her here, and should she bring trouble it would all be on his head. Besides, she was merely to live here. Krauss had informed them all that the witch would at best offer her expertise and was never to go out on the field with the team. What secrets she kept would have no real effect on Nuada and his time here. Should it come to it however, Nuada was certain the witch would not be an obstacle. For now, he would keep a watchful eye on her, and keep his dislike of her to himself unless she forced his hand.